Karachi Kings players have tested negative for Covid-19. AFP
Karachi Kings players have tested negative for Covid-19. AFP
Karachi Kings players have tested negative for Covid-19. AFP
Karachi Kings players have tested negative for Covid-19. AFP

PSL: Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal says team players and officials have tested negative for coronavirus


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

Salman Iqbal, the owner of Karachi Kings, says all tests for coronavirus among players and officials of the franchise have come back negative.

The Pakistan Super League was suspended on Tuesday after Alex Hales had reported symptoms of the condition.

The English batsman developed a fever and cough after returning to the UK at the weekend. He had been playing for Karachi Kings in the PSL.

After the decision to postpone the tournament, which had reached its semi-final stage, had been taken, all players and officials associated with the event were due to be tested for the condition.

Iqbal said everyone involved with his franchise had been cleared after test results came back on Wednesday afternoon.

“We have all been tested, the team and the Karachi Kings management, and all results have come back negative,” Iqbal said.

“Everybody who was near Alex is negative. I spoke to Alex the day before yesterday, late at night, and he said he has symptoms.

“We told the [Pakistan Cricket Board]. They cancelled the league, and we had tests done.”

Iqbal said he has remained in contact with Hales, and has privately tried to arrange for a doctor to visit him at his home in Nottingham, in the English Midlands.

______________________

Sports stars who have tested positive for Covid-19

  • Former Manchester United player Marouane Fellaini tested positive in China where he plays for Shandong Luneng. He has now been discharged. Reuters
    Former Manchester United player Marouane Fellaini tested positive in China where he plays for Shandong Luneng. He has now been discharged. Reuters
  • Juventus' Paulo Dybala said both he and his girlfriend Oriana tested positive though both were in "perfect conditions". AP Photo
    Juventus' Paulo Dybala said both he and his girlfriend Oriana tested positive though both were in "perfect conditions". AP Photo
  • Milan's sports director and club legend Paolo Maldini and his son Daniel, who plays for the same club, tested positive for Covid-19. A statement from the club said both are well. EPA
    Milan's sports director and club legend Paolo Maldini and his son Daniel, who plays for the same club, tested positive for Covid-19. A statement from the club said both are well. EPA
  • Wu Lei of Espanyol. "Wu Lei has mild symptoms and is currently undergoing treatment," the CFA said in a statement, adding that they had been given the news by La Liga strugglers Espanyol. The 28-year-old striker, China's best-known player, is in self-isolation at home in Barcelona, Xinhua news agency said. Getty Images
    Wu Lei of Espanyol. "Wu Lei has mild symptoms and is currently undergoing treatment," the CFA said in a statement, adding that they had been given the news by La Liga strugglers Espanyol. The 28-year-old striker, China's best-known player, is in self-isolation at home in Barcelona, Xinhua news agency said. Getty Images
  • Kevin Durant is reportedly among four Brooklyn Nets players who have tested positive for the coronavirus and are in isolation. The injured Durant, who has yet to play for the Nets since signing for the team last year, confirmed to The Athletic website he had tested positive for the virus. "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this," Durant was quoted as saying. AFP
    Kevin Durant is reportedly among four Brooklyn Nets players who have tested positive for the coronavirus and are in isolation. The injured Durant, who has yet to play for the Nets since signing for the team last year, confirmed to The Athletic website he had tested positive for the virus. "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this," Durant was quoted as saying. AFP
  • Juventus confirmed on Tuesday night that French midfielder Blaise Matuidi had become the second player from the club to test positive for the coronavirus. Italian defender Daniele Rugani was the first player to play in Serie A to test positive last week. EPA
    Juventus confirmed on Tuesday night that French midfielder Blaise Matuidi had become the second player from the club to test positive for the coronavirus. Italian defender Daniele Rugani was the first player to play in Serie A to test positive last week. EPA
  • Valencia's Eliaquim Mangala, left, was one of five players and staff at the club to test positive. "I'm feeling good and I have no symptoms associated with the virus. However, I am confined in house and separated from my family," he said on Twitter. AP Photo
    Valencia's Eliaquim Mangala, left, was one of five players and staff at the club to test positive. "I'm feeling good and I have no symptoms associated with the virus. However, I am confined in house and separated from my family," he said on Twitter. AP Photo
  • Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive on March 14 but said he was "feeling better already" the following day. Staff who had been in contact with him were self-isolating. AFP
    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive on March 14 but said he was "feeling better already" the following day. Staff who had been in contact with him were self-isolating. AFP
  • Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert, who apologized for his careless actions before he was diagnosed with novel coronavirus, has pledged to donate more than half a million dollars to health services and arena workers affected by the pandemic. AFP
    Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert, who apologized for his careless actions before he was diagnosed with novel coronavirus, has pledged to donate more than half a million dollars to health services and arena workers affected by the pandemic. AFP
  • Valencia's Ezequiel Garay was the first La Liga player to test positive on March 15. "I tested positive for coronavirus, I feel very well and now all that's left is to do what the health authorities say, which is to isolate myself," he said on Instagram. All football is suspended in Spain. EPA
    Valencia's Ezequiel Garay was the first La Liga player to test positive on March 15. "I tested positive for coronavirus, I feel very well and now all that's left is to do what the health authorities say, which is to isolate myself," he said on Instagram. All football is suspended in Spain. EPA
  • Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi was the first Premier League player to test positive. He said on Twitter on March 13: "As you may be aware I had the virus for the last couple of days which I have recovered from. I am following the health guidelines and self-isolating myself from everybody for the week. I hope to see everybody soon and hopefully will be back on the pitch very soon. Reuters
    Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi was the first Premier League player to test positive. He said on Twitter on March 13: "As you may be aware I had the virus for the last couple of days which I have recovered from. I am following the health guidelines and self-isolating myself from everybody for the week. I hope to see everybody soon and hopefully will be back on the pitch very soon. Reuters
  • Juventus' Italian defender Daniele Rugani was confirmed to have the virus on March 12. "You've read the news, so I want to reassure everyone who's worried about me, I'm fine," Rugani said on Twitter. The entire Juventus squad is to spend two weeks in quarantine. AFP
    Juventus' Italian defender Daniele Rugani was confirmed to have the virus on March 12. "You've read the news, so I want to reassure everyone who's worried about me, I'm fine," Rugani said on Twitter. The entire Juventus squad is to spend two weeks in quarantine. AFP
  • Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was the second NBA player to contract the virus. The NBA season has been suspended. AP Photo
    Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was the second NBA player to contract the virus. The NBA season has been suspended. AP Photo
  • Manolo Gabbiadini of Sampdoria is one of five players to have tested positive at the club. "I still want to tell you that I'm fine, so don't worry. Follow all the rules, stay at home and everything will work out," said Gabbiadini on Twitter. PA Wire.
    Manolo Gabbiadini of Sampdoria is one of five players to have tested positive at the club. "I still want to tell you that I'm fine, so don't worry. Follow all the rules, stay at home and everything will work out," said Gabbiadini on Twitter. PA Wire.
  • Sampdoria's Omar Colley, right, was confirmed to have coronavirus. Lapresse via AP
    Sampdoria's Omar Colley, right, was confirmed to have coronavirus. Lapresse via AP
  • Albin Ekdal of Sampdoria tested positive. Italy is one of the worst affected countries. Getty Images
    Albin Ekdal of Sampdoria tested positive. Italy is one of the worst affected countries. Getty Images
  • Fabio Depaoli, left of Sampdoria, said on Instagram that he was "fine" after testing positive. Getty Images
    Fabio Depaoli, left of Sampdoria, said on Instagram that he was "fine" after testing positive. Getty Images
  • Morten Thorsby, left, was one of five Sampdoria footballers to test positive. Lapresse via AP
    Morten Thorsby, left, was one of five Sampdoria footballers to test positive. Lapresse via AP
  • Fiorentina foward Patrick Cutrone, on loan from Premier League Wolves, is one of three players to test positive at the club. EPA
    Fiorentina foward Patrick Cutrone, on loan from Premier League Wolves, is one of three players to test positive at the club. EPA
  • German Pezzella, right, of Fiorentina, said on Instagram that his symptoms had disappeared after he tested positive. EPA
    German Pezzella, right, of Fiorentina, said on Instagram that his symptoms had disappeared after he tested positive. EPA
  • Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic was another confirmed case. Fiorentina said in a statement on March 13: "The club is in the process of undertaking all the necessary isolation procedures in accordance with the regulations, starting with identifying all the people who have had contact with the player." EPA
    Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic was another confirmed case. Fiorentina said in a statement on March 13: "The club is in the process of undertaking all the necessary isolation procedures in accordance with the regulations, starting with identifying all the people who have had contact with the player." EPA
  • Hannover's Timo Hubers, right, was the first player in Germany to be diagnosed. Reuters
    Hannover's Timo Hubers, right, was the first player in Germany to be diagnosed. Reuters
  • Paderborn's Luca Kilian tested positive. The Bundesliga has been suspended until April 2. EPA
    Paderborn's Luca Kilian tested positive. The Bundesliga has been suspended until April 2. EPA

______________________

“He is following the [UK government] advice to quarantine himself for seven days,” Iqbal said.

“We have tried our level best to get a test privately done, but we could only get that done in London, and he is in Nottingham.

"He can’t leave his house. He has been told that he has to wait it out for seven days.

"I have spoken to him. He has a bad cough and high temperature, but he does not have other symptoms such as shortness of breath.”

As of early Wednesday afternoon there were 254 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pakistan, according to reports.

The majority – 181 – have been recorded in Sindh, the province of which Karachi is the capital.

In explaining the decision to postpone the PSL on Tuesday, Wasim Khan, PCB chief executive, said he hoped it would help raise awareness of the severity of the situation for the public.

“People are losing lives, and people’s safety is paramount,” Khan said.

“We took a number of measures as the PCB, throughout this.

"That included thermal guns to check temperatures of players and officials.

“We took the decision to reduce the number of days, reduce the number of matches, and also give the option to the overseas players and other players to leave and take no further part, should they wish to do so.

“It was our obligation to do that. We have listened to the government. We are here to support, and raise the awareness.

“The franchises are fully supportive in terms of what we are trying to do.

“We have an obligation to ensure the safety of fans, supporters, and to raise the awareness of the pandemic that is spreading across the world.”

The intention is to reschedule the final three remaining matches in the PSL.

Table-topping Multan Sultans were set to play a semi-final against Peshawar Zalmi, while Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars were pitted together in the other game.

Iqbal said it is feasible the matches could be rescheduled later this year, with the week following the T20 World Cup in Australia in November currently seen as the most viable option.

“We are planning to do a seven-day event for the semi-finals and the final,” Iqbal said.

“The four teams, who are part of the board of PSL, are talking to the PCB about it.

"We think there is a window of seven to eight days after the World Cup in Australia that might be possible.”